Method for refinishing a rim/wheel

ABSTRACT

A machine (10) for refinishing a rim/wheel (R) by first elevating (20) the rim/wheel from ground level into a washing and degreasing chamber (13), washing and degreasing the rim/wheel in the chamber (13), transferring the rim/wheel into a shot blast chamber (14), shot-blasting the rim/wheel, transferring the rim/wheel to a spray coating area (15), spray-coating the rim/wheel with a protective material (C), and thereafter returning the rim/wheel to its initial elevation for subsequent tire/retread application thereto (20). The rim/wheel is transferred through the machine with its axis in a generally horizontal plane FIG. 1) and is also rotated about its axis during washing/degreasing and shot-blasting. During the spray coating, the rim/wheel is coated with its axis disposed both vertically and horizontally.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The method and apparatus disclosed herein relates to commonly assignedapplication Ser. No. 07/036,659 filed Apr. 10, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No.4,763,392 and entitled METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TOTALLY COATED TIRE RIMin the names of Robert D. Fogel and Albert A. Tabor, and the totality ofthe disclosure of the latter-identified application is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to refinishing or reconditioning rimsor wheels of motor vehicles, such as trucks, automobiles, tractors,trailers, or the like.

A truck rim is very rarely serviced from the day a tire is first mountedthereon and any number of retreads or new tires are remounted thereon.Such truck rims or wheels are subject to virtually constant use undermost adverse coditions of nature, terrain and the like. Quite simply,the more commercial vehicles are used or are "on the road," the moreprofitable is the return on investment. Accordingly, the wheels and rimsare normally removed from trucks, tractors, trailers, or the like, newtires or retreads are mounted thereon, and these rims and wheels arereturned to service with most unfortunate consequences, as evidenced byrecent national reports confirming the high incidents of large vehicleaccidents in proportion to the lesser number of such vehicles on theroad as compared to passenger automobiles. If a truck wheel or rim isnot cleaned, refurbished and/or refinished or is not even incidentallyinspected before being returned to service, the truck upon which the rimor wheel is mounted is a potential rolling disaster. Accordingly, thepresent invention provides a novel method of and apparatus forrefinishing truck or similar vehicle wheels and rims so that whenremounted with retreads or new tires on vehicles, the safety factor ofthe refinished rims and/or wheels are comparable and even better thanwhen new.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel method of and apparatus forrefinishing truck or similar wheels and rims by rotating a rim/wheel ina first chamber and subjecting the same to a hot high-pressure waterspray for cleaning and degreasing purposes, transferring the rim/wheelto a second chamber in which the rim/wheel is again rotated andshot-blasted to remove dirt, rust, debris and paint therefrom, removingthe rim/wheel from the second chamber, and thereafter applying acomplete coating of polymeric protective material upon the rim/wheelwhereby a retread or a new tire applied thereto will be assured ofsafety and performance, extended wear and service life and low futuremaintenance, all accomplished in a matter of minutes at low costs.

In further keeping with this invention, the rim/wheel is preferablyrotated in both chambers when its axis is disposed in a generallyhorizontal plane and the coating of polymeric material is applied byspraying when the rim/wheel is disposed in two positions with the axisthereof respectively vertical and horizontal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel refinishingmethod and apparatus in which the rim/wheel is elevated from floor levelover an arcuate path of travel to the first chamber, conveyed from thefirst chamber to the second chamber, painted and subsequently reloweredalong an arcuate path back to floor level.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel refinishingmethod and apparatus as aforesaid wherein an ejection mechanism isutilized with each chamber to effectively eject each rim/wheel byrotation thereof along its axis.

With the above and other objects in view that will herein after appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a novel refinishing apparatus ormachine of this invention, and illustrates a rim/wheel in phantomoutline progressively moving from right-to-left between an elevatingstation, a pressurized hot liquid washing and degreasing station, ashot-blasting station, a painting station, and a lowering station.

FIG. 2 is a highly schematic front elevational view of the refinishingapparatus of FIG. 1, and illustrates the various stations with theelevating and lower stations rotated 90 degrees for clarity.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line3--3 of FIG. 1, and illustrates details of the high-pressure cleaningand degreasing station, a rim/wheel ejector thereof, and a pivotingplatform at the elevating station.

FIG. 4, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing FIG. 2, is afragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG.2, and illustrates a rim/wheel in the shot blast chamber.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the washing and degreasingchamber and the shot blast cleaning chamber, and illustrates details ofthe structures thereof and the manner in which a rim/wheel is cleanedthereby.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line6--6 FIG. 2, and illustrates a rim/wheel being sprayed with polymericmaterial during the rotation of the rim/wheel about a horizontal axis.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 7--7 of FIG. 2, and illustrates a rim/wheel being sprayed whilerotated about a horizontal axis and subsequently being reoriented withits axis vertical for subsequent spraying.

FIG. 8, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing FIG. 6, is anenlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 8--8 of FIG. 7,and illustrates the synthetic polymeric protective material beingapplied to the rim/wheel during the rotation thereof about a verticalaxis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A novel machine or apparatus constructed in accordance with thisinvention for refinishing wheels or rims R of relatively large vehicles,such as trucks, tractors, trailers, and the like, is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10.

The machine 10 includes a frame or framework 11, an elevating station 12for elevating each rim or wheel R (hereinafter rim/wheel R) from groundlevel to a high-pressure, hot water washing and degreasing station 13, ashot-blasting station 14, a polymeric resin coating or painting station15 and a lowering or discharge station 16. A second rim/wheel elevatingstation 17 is utilized to lift rims/wheels R from ground level directlyto the shot blast station 14 thereby by-passing the high-pressure, hotwater washing and degreasing station 13 should rim/wheels R besufficiently free of grease, grime, dirt and the like for directshot-blasting at the blast station 14. Conveyor means 18 which will bedescribed more fully hereinafter convey or transfer each rim/wheel fromright-to-left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, during the refinishingthereof.

The elevating stations 12, 17 and the lowering station 16 are virtuallyidentical in construction, and each includes means in the form of anL-shaped platform 20 defined by a plate 21 and a ramp plate 22 which iswelded to the base plate 21 at substantially 90 degrees thereto. Eachramp plate 22 is also welded to generally parallel side guide plate 23.A pair of cylindrical sleeves 24 (FIG. 7) are welded or otherwisesecured to an upper end portion (unnumbered) of each of the ramp plates22, and a cylindrical pivot pin 25 is received in and projects outwardlyof the cylindrical sleeves 24. The sleeves 24 are welded or adjustablylocked to the pivot pin 25 by radial set screws or bolts 26. The ends ofeach pivot pin 25 are journalled for rotation in bearing blocks 27 whichare suitably welded or bolted to the frame 11.

Means 30 (FIG. 3) in the form of a fluid cylinder 31 housing areciprocal piston rod 32 is provided for pivoting each platform 20between the positions thereof shown in FIG. 1 at which the base plates21 rest upon and are generally parallel to the support surface S' of themachine 10, and the positions shown in phantom outline in FIGS. 3 and 6at which the ramp plates 22 are disposed generally in a horizontalplane. A conventional pivotal connection 33 (FIG. 3) connects eachcylinder 31 to an appropriate portion of the frame 11 and a likeconventional pivotal connection 34 pivotally connects each piston rod 32to the associated ramp plate 22. A fluid pressure source (not shown) isconnected by conventional lines (also not shown) to the head and rodends of the cylinder 31 and by operating appropriate foot pedals 35(FIG. 1) an operator can selectively extend or retract the piston rods32 relative to the cylinders 31. As an example, by depressing one of thefoot pedals 35 after a rim/wheel R has been positioned upon the baseplate 21 of the elevating station 12, as shown in FIG. 1, the piston rod32 will be extended thereby pivoting the platform 20 (FIG. 3) from thesolid to the phantom outline position in FIG. 3 about a generallyhorizontal axis defined by the pivot pin 25. In this manner the platform20 elevates the rim/wheel along a generally arcuate path of travel Abetween the solid and phantom outline positions of the platform 20illustrated in FIG. 3 to thereby raise the rim/wheel R to a positionimmediately adjacent the high-pressure, hot water washing and degreasingstation 13. Obviously, at the lowering station 16 each refinishedrim/wheel R is rolled upon the ramp plate 22 when in a horizontalposition after which the associated piston rod 32 is retracted into thecylinder 31 to lower the refinished rim/wheel R to the surface S', againalong an arcuate path of travel A1 (FIG. 2).

The conveying means 18 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) run the length of the machine10 and are defined by two generally cylindrical rollers 41, 42transversely spaced from each other (FIGS. 3 and 4) in generallyparallel relationship and mounted for rotation at opposite ends of themachine 10 in journals 43, 44, respectively. While the rollers 41, 42are generally parallel to each other, as viewed along the lengththereof, the elevations of upper surfaces (unnumbered) are not alignedand, in fact, cross at approximately the mid-point of the length of therollers 41, 42, as is best illustrated in FIG. 2. Referring specificallyto FIG. 2, the left-hand end of the roller 41 in FIG. 2 is shownelevated above the left-hand end of the roller 42, whereas theright-hand end of the roller 42 is above the right-hand end of theroller 41. Stated another way, the axes of the rollers 41, 42 crosssubstantially mid-way between the ends of the rollers 41, 42, and thereason therefor is to advance, convey or transport the rims/wheels fromright-to-left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the rollers 41, 42 arerotated in the same direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 3. The rollers41, 42 are driven clockwise by means of a conventional electrical motor45 (FIG. 3) having a pulley 46 rotated in a clockwise direction tosimilarly drive a pulley belt 47 which is in turn entrained aboutpulleys 48, 49 connected to the respective rollers 41, 42. The motor 45is selectively energized from an electrical power source (not shown) bymanipulating conventional switches 51 (FIG. 1). When the rollers 41, 42are rotated clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, the rim wheel R supportedthereby on its beads B1 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG.3, and due to the vertical offsetting of the rollers 41, 42 heretoforenoted, the rim/wheel R not only rotates about its axis but also movesparallel to its axis from right-to-left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2,from the elevating station 12 toward the lowering station 16 during arefinishing operation when, of course, the rollers 41, 42 are beingdriven by energization of the motor 45. The motor 45 can be, of course,a variable speed motor to control the rate of transport or travel of therims/wheels R during the operation of the machine 10.

The high-pressure, hot water washing and degreasing station 13 includesmeans 50 defining a generally rectangular chamber or housing essentiallyclosed at its top, bottom, rear and opposite sides, but having a frontwall 51 provided with a generally rectangular opening 52. The opening 52is aligned with the platform 20 of the elevating station 12 so that eachrim/wheel R can be manually rolled from the ramp plate 22 (FIG. 3)across the rollers 42, 41, whether stationary or driven, and into thechamber 50 through the opening 52 thereof. In order to assist in thistransfer the upper portion (unnumbered) of the ramp plate 22 at theelevating station 12 has a plate 54 welded between the side guide plates23 and projects slightly past the roller 42 (FIG. 3) when the platform20 has been elevated. The plate 45 thereby provides a transition surfaceover which the wheel/rim R can be rolled, and like transition surfacescan be so provided, if necessary, by welding suitable plates 55, 56 tothe framework 11 and the housing 50.

A generally rectangular door 60 provided with appropriate seals can bereciprocated up and down to respectively open and close the opening 52.Suitable lateral vertical guides or tracks 61, 62 received lateral edges(unnumbered) of the door 60 and guide its reciprocal motion upwardly anddownwardly under the influence of door moving means 65 in the form of afluid cylinder 66 having a reciprocal rod 67 pivotally connected at 68to the door 60. The cylinder 66 is pivotally connected at 69 to abracket 70 which is in turn connected to an appropriate angular portionof the frame 11 (FIG. 1).

A ledge 72 (FIG. 3) forms a transition at the opening 52 of the chamber50 for facilitating the rolling of each rim/wheel R into the housing 50and upon a pair of generally parallel rollers 73, 74 which collectivelydefine means for rotating each rim/wheel R when being treated in thechamber 50 with, of course, the door 60 closed. The rollers 73, 74 areconventionally journaled in the side walls (unnumbered) of the chamber50, as is evident in FIG. 5, and each roller 73, 74 is driven through apulley 75 (FIG. 5) connected to each roller 73, 74, a pulley belt 76entrained thereabout and about a pulley 77 with the pulley 77 beingdriven by a conventional variable speed motor 78. An appropriate guard80 houses the pulleys 75, 77 and the belt 76.

An appropriate reservoir 85 is provided in a lower portion of thechamber 50 in which water W is maintained at a predetermined height andis heated to a desired temperature (preferably 180° F.) by conventionalgas burners 86 connected to a suitable gas source. An electric motor 87operated by one of the switches 51 (FIG. 10 operates a conventionalsubmersible pump 88 having an inlet (not shown) which draws the water Wfrom the reservoir 85 and feeds it under high pressure through an outletpipe 90 and a series of other pipes connected thereto and being closedby caps 91 through 96 (FIGS. 3 and 5) having elongated slits 97 foremitting therefrom high pressure hot sprays S of water W. The slit capor nozzle 91 directs the spray S upwardly against the rotating rim/wheelR; the slit or nozzle 92 directs the spray from left-to-right, as viewedin FIG. 5, against the left bead of the rim/wheel; another opposingnozzle (not shown) in the same plane as the slit cap/nozzle 92 directsthe spray from right-to-left in FIG. 5; and the pairs of slit caps ornozzles 93, 94 and 95, 96 direct the spray to the right and down and tothe left and down, respectively, in FIG. 5. Because of this sprayorientation and the rotation of the rim/wheel R, the entirety of therim/wheel including internal, external and peripheral surfaces, arecleaned and degreased.

At the completion of the high-pressure hot water washing and degreasingoperation, the rod 67 is retracted into the cylinder 66 (FIG. 3) therebyopening the door 60 and the rim R can be ejected from the chamber 50.

Means for ejecting the rim/wheel R from the chamber 50 includes acylindrical rod 100 (FIG. 5) journaled in the side walls (unnumbered) ofthe chamber or housing 50, and carrying centrally thereof a dependingarm 101 carrying a crossbar 102. An end of the rod 100 outside of thehousing 50 carries a crank arm 103 which is connected by a pivot 104 toa rod 105 of a fluid cylinder 106 having rod and cylinder ends connectedto suitable sources of compressed air and operated by appropriatesolenoids through one of the switches 51 or one of the foot pedals 35,as desired. The cylinder 106 is connected by a pivot 107 to the housing50. With the rod 105 fully retracted in the cylinder 106, the arm 101and the crossbar 102 occupy the position shown in FIG. 3 spaced remotefrom the door 60 and the opening 52. However, when the rod 105 isextended, the arm 101 pivots counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3,causing the crossbar 102 to engage the wheel/rim R and push the sameoutwardly through the opening 52 and upon he rollers 41, 42. Of course,the door 60 should not be opened until the motor 87 has been deenergizedand the spray S from the associated nozzles 91 through 96 has stopped.All of this can be done manually or through appropriate interlocks whichperform no part of the present invention. Furthermore, an appropriateexhaust opening (unnumbered) is provided in the housing 50 and issuitably vented to atmosphere by an appropriate fan and motor which isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 108 (FIG. 5). Also,appropriate parallel guide rods 110, 111 (FIGS. 3 and 5) can be providedin the housing 50 to ensure that the rim/wheel R will be fed properlyinto and out of the chamber 50 and, of course, during the rotationthereof by the rollers 73, 74, guide rods 110, 111 will impart stabilityto the rim/wheel and assure rotation about a generally horizontal axis.Furthermore, the high pressure of the sprays S will not tip therim/wheel R over upon either of its beads because of the stabilityoffered by the rods 110, 111. Thus, the rods 110, 111 not only serve thepurpose of guiding the introduction of the rim/wheel R into and out ofthe housing 50, but also provide means for stabilizing the rim/wheel Rwith the axis horizontal during the high-pressure hot water washing anddegreasing operation.

Once the rim/wheel R has been ejected from the high-pressure hot waterwashing and dereasing station 13, the beads B thereof rest upon therollers 41, 42 which during the rotation thereof advance the rim/wheel Rfrom the station 13 to the shot blast station 14.

The shot blast station 14 includes a housing 50' and other componentsidentical the those of the station 13 and, thus, the same have beenidentically numbered and primed. Accordingly, once the washed anddegreased rim/wheel R is advanced to the opening 52' or, absent washingand degreasing, elevated by the platform 20 of the elevating station 17adjacent the opening 52', the rim/wheel R is manually rolled into theshot blast housing or chamber 50' past the rollers 42, 41 (FIG. 4) andupon rollers 73', 74' which are rotated by the electric motor78',pulleys 75', 77', and the associated belt 76'. As the rim/wheel Rrotates (FIGS. 4 and 5), shot blast means generally designated by thereference numberal 120 drive tiny metallic pieces P of shot againstexterior and interior surfaces of the rim/wheel R by means of electricaldriven motors 121 which rotate within housings 122 at high speeds in agenerally upward direction, as viewed in FIG. 5. A plurality ofdeflector plates 123 are suitably mounted within the chamber 50' tointercept the pieces or shot blast P or portions thereof and redirectthe blast, particularly toward the interior of the rim/wheel R to makecertain that all surfaces thereof are totally cleansed. In an actualexperimental working embodiment of this invention, the shot blast Premoved all rust and scale from the rim/wheel R and up to seven layersof baked on paint from both the inside and outside of the rim/wheel R.Dust is withdrawn through an opening 125 in a rear wall (unnumbered) ofthe shot blast chamber 50' and is delivered via vacuum and an associatedflexible pipe 126 to a self-contained dust collector housing 127 (FIG.7) so as to preclude venting. The dust collector includes a suitableconventional filter for entraining dust, dirt and the like, and this canbe discharged from the hopper 127 through a discharge door 128 (FIG. 1)at a truncated lower portion of the hopper 127. In addition, sine theshot blast P is directed at high velocity against the surface of therim/wheel R, the metallic material is heated through friction, and thisheat augments the drying of the subsequent applied polymeric coatingmaterial, as will be described immediately hereinafter. The door 60' is,of course, opened at the shot blast station 14 only after the shot blastmotors 121 have been deenergized to preclude obvious damage, andthereafter the rim/wheel R is ejected from the chamber 50' by rollingabout its horizontal axis by the crossbar 102', as is most evident fromFIG. 4. Preferably a suitable reservior or tray 130 having a dischargespout 131 (FIG. 2) is positioned between the rollers 41, 42 at the shotblast station 14 so that any of the shot blast P adhering thereto can bedislodged by, for example, manually bouncing the rim/wheel R, tippingthe same over in either of two directions or both of two directions withthe axis thereof vertical, etc. The shot blast exiting the spout 131(FIG. 2) can be collected in a suitable container 132 and, of course,reinserted into the chamber 50' for continued use.

At the end of the shot blast operation, the rim/wheel R is transferredby the rollers 41, 42 to the coating or painting station 15 whichincludes a hood or chamber 140 having a entrance opening 141, an exitopening 142, and a generally rectangular front opening 143. A relativelylarge filter 144 (FIG. 6) spans a major portion of the rear of the hoodor chamber 140 and defines therewith a permeable front wall of amanifold 145 which is connected by a duct 146 to an electric motor 147for drawing air out of the hood, through the filter 144, as indicated bythe unnumbered headed arrows in FIGS 6 and 8, to assure that coatingmaterial C issuing as a spray from a manual hand-held spray nozzle 150will not adversely contaminate the general environment and meet existingOCEA and EPA standards. The coating material C includes a syntheticpolymer or copolymer resin, and preferably is formed of the followingcomponents and proportions:

    ______________________________________                                        A     119    lb.    76 Resin 1018    82.35%                                         12     oz.    Colloids 681F    .52%                                     B     11     oz.    Aqua Ammonia     .48%                                           16     oz.    Water            .69%                                     C     13     oz.    Anti-Rust Mixture                                                                              .56%                                           5.9    oz.    Surfynol 104 Surfactant                                                                        .25%                                           112    oz.    Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether                                                                    4.84%                                    D     105.6  oz.    Methyl Alcohol   4.57%                                          132.8  oz.    Water            5.74%                                    ______________________________________                                    

Component A is first thoroughly mixed with high sheer agitation andcomponents B, C and D are all individually thoroughly premixed. Afterpremixing, component B is added to component A with high sheer agitationfollowed by the addition of premix C, again with high sheer agitation,followed by the addition of component D, again with high sheeragitation.

When the rim/wheel R are sprayed, as described earlier, a coating C ofapproximately 1-3 mm is obtained, and preferably a coating of a totalthickness of 2 mm is preferable.

The 76 Resin 1018 is a trademark of Union Chemicals Division, Union OilCompany of California, 1900 East Gulf Road, Schaumburg, Ill. 60195. Thisresin is a styreneacrylate copolymer which is a milky fluid, dilutablein water, and having a boiling point of approximately 212° F. (100° C.).Additives include trace amounts of formaldehyde, surfactant, ammonia andthe residule acrylamide, acrylate and styrene.

Colloid 681F is the tradename of a liquid anti-foam available fromColloids, Inc. 394 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, N.J. 07114. Typicalproperties include:

    ______________________________________                                        Appearance          Off-White, opaque liquid                                  ph (5% dispersion) @ 25° C.                                                                5.5                                                       Specific Gravity @ 25° C.                                                                  0.88                                                      Viscosity @ 25° C.; cps                                                                    300                                                       Pour Point, °C.                                                                            -17° C.                                            Flash point (PMCC); °C.                                                                    179                                                       ______________________________________                                         Brookfield LVF, #2 spindle @ 60 RPM.                                     

Aqua Ammonia (ammonia hydroxide--NH₄ OH) is available from OccidentalChemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Center, 360 Rainbow Boulevard,South, Box 728, Niagara Fall, N.Y., 14302. Typical physical data andingredients are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         PHYSICAL DATA                                                                ______________________________________                                        Boiling Point (at 1 atm-29.4%                                                                  Specific Gravity (25% solution)                              Solution)                                                                     27° C.    0.91 (7.6 lbs/gal)                                           Melting point    pH                                                           -98.3° F. 14                                                           Solubility In Water                                                                            Vapor Pressure (mm Hg 20° C.)                         Soluble at all concentrations                                                                  390                                                          Appearance and Color                                                                           Vapor Density (Air = 1)                                      Clear. colorless liquid with                                                                   0.6                                                          a pungent odor                                                                ______________________________________                                        INGREDIENTS  Percent  Threshold Limit Values                                  ______________________________________                                        NH.sub.3     24.5-25.5                                                                              The TLV ® limits established                                        by ACGIH (1984-85) are:                                                             TWA         STEL                                                              28 ppm      35 ppm                                                            18 mg/m.sup.3                                                                             27 mm/m.sup.3                               Water        74.5-75.5                                                                              Not applicable                                          ______________________________________                                    

The anti-rust mixture is formed from a 128 oz. Water, 36 gram SodiumNitrate and 11.5 oz. Sodium Benzioate.

Surfynol is a registered trademark of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.,Box 538, Allentown, Pa. 18105, and it is a proprietary mixture of thelatter containing 2, 4, 7, 9, Tetramethyl-5-decyne-4, 7-diol (TMDD)2-butoxyethanol (butyl cellosolve) (TMDD-C₁₄ H₂₆ O₂ ; 2-butoxyethanol-C₆H₁₄ O₂) Typical physical data includes:

    ______________________________________                                        Apearance          Clear, pale yellow liquid                                  Odor               Mild, methol-like                                          Boiling Point      11° C. at 100 mm Hg                                 Specific Gravity (H.sub.2 O = 1)                                                                 0.903 @ 25° C.                                      Solubility in Water                                                                              <1%                                                        Vapor Pressure     11 mm Hg @ 25° C.                                   ______________________________________                                    

Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether is available from Dow Chemical U.S.A.,Midland, Mich. 48674 under the registered trademark "Dowanol" having thefollowing physical data:

    ______________________________________                                        Boiling Point     340° F.                                              Vap Press         0.88 mmHg @ 25 C.                                           Vap Density       4.10                                                        Sol. in Water     Infinitely                                                  Sp. Gravity       .897 @ 25/25 C.                                             Appearance        Water white liquid                                          Odor              Ether-like odor                                             ______________________________________                                    

Methyl alcohol (methanol) is readily available commercially (E.I. duPont De Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del. 19898.

When the latter-described coating material C has been sprayed upon therim/wheels R and the coating has dried, the appearance is virtuallyperfectly clear and transparent and that a thickness ranging from 1-3mm, is quite resilient and, thus, acceptable for intimate contact andair-impervious sealing with an associated new or retread tire, the beadsthereof and the associated valve.

In situations in which it is also desired to "paint" or color the rim10, a pigmented formulation of the coating is obtained from thefollowing formulation:

    ______________________________________                                        A.  2224.00 oz.    76 Resin 1018    75.23%                                        5:72 oz.       Colloids 681F    .19%                                      B.  305.40 oz.     Water            10.33%                                        11.60 oz       Aqua Ammonia     .39%                                      C.  10.75 oz.      Potassium Tri Poly Phosphate                                                                   .36%                                      D.  7.00 oz.       Surfynol 104BC Surfactant                                                                      .24%                                          119.00 oz.     Ethylene Clycol Butyl Ether                                                                    4.02%                                         21.00 oz.      Anti Rust Mixture                                                                              .71%                                      E.  8.00 oz.       Dowicil 75 Bactacide                                                                           .27%                                          16.00 oz.      Water            .54%                                      F.  95.00 oz.      Methyl Alcohol   3.21%                                         132.80 oz.     Water            4.49%                                     ______________________________________                                    

Component A is again mixed with high sheer agitation and premixedcomponent B is then added to component A with high sheer agitation.Component C is also added to the latter admixture under high sheeragitation. Thereafter 12 to 50 pounds of dry titanium Dioxide is addedwith high sheer agitation until a minimum of °7 on the Hageman Gauge isattained. Color pigment is added (10 oz. to 50 oz.), as required toobtain the pigmentation desired. Premixed components D, E and F are thensuccessively added one at a time to the latter admixture in succession,all with high sheer agitation. In this case the characteristics remainthe same as the first-described coating C except, of course, the same ispigmented rather than being clear, but all remaining characteristics arethe same.

The coating material C is contained in a suitably pressurized containeror tank 160 (FIG. 6) and is conducted through a hose 161 to the nozzle150 which is manually controlled by an operator to first apply thecoating C to each rim/wheel R when its axis is in a horizontal plane andsupported by its beads B1 upon the rollers or rolls 41, 42, as indicatedat position P1 of FIG. 7. The operator thoroughly sprays the insidesurface of each rim/wheel R from both sides, as indicated by the solidand phantom outline illustrated nozzles 150 at position P1 of FIG. 7.The nozzle 150 are shown directed outwardly away from the filter 144,but this is merely a manner of convenience and preferably the nozzlesare directed 180 degrees from that illustrated so that any of thecoating C which is not impinged against and adhered to each of therims/wheels R is drawn toward, against and entrapped by the filter 144,as is most evident from FIG. 6 of the drawings. The reason the rim/wheelR is painted with its axis disposed generally horizontally at positionP1 is to preclude the coating C from being applied to the axial ends andoutermost peripheries of the beads B1 which would then cause thiscoating C to be transferred to the rollers 41, 42 as the rim/wheel R istransferred through its rotation and leftward movement under theinfluence of the rotating rollers 41, 42 from position P1 to position P2(FIG. 7).

At position P2 the rim/wheel R is placed upon a turntable 170 havingthree arms 171 through 173 equally spaced from each other and radiallyoutwardly emanating from the shaft 173 which is mounted for rotation ina journal 174 fixed to a portion of the frame 11. Each arm 171 through173 has welded thereto an upwardly directed retaining pin 175 (FIGS. 6and 8). When the rim/wheel R has been placed upon the arms 171 through173, its axis is, of course, disposed vertially, and the operator thenmanually rotates the platform 172 and sprays the coating C from thenozzle 150 upon the exterior surface of the rim/wheel R including, ofcourse, each of the beads B1 and particularly the circumferentially andradially outermost portions thereof. Thus, the beads B1 can now besprayed with the coating C without adversely transerring the coatingmaterial C to the rollers 41, 42 or any other of the components of theoverall machine 10.

As was earlier noted, the effect of the shot blast P is such as to heateach rim/wheel R and, thus, when the coating C is applied thereto by thespray nozzle 150 it dries extremely rapidly (approximately threeminutes), which corresponds generally to the time that the rims/wheels Roccupy the housings or chambers 50, 50'. Thus, as one rim/wheel R isbeing spray/coated, two other rims/wheels R are being respectivelydegreased and shot-blasted, respectively, while yet another rim/wheel Ris being loaded at the elevating station 12 while a completely driedrim/wheel R is being lowered at the lowering station 16. Thus, in thisfashion a single operator can rapidly, efficiently, effectively and withlittle effort effect degreasing/washing; shot-blasting; spray paintingand associated loading and unloading in very little time at, of course,very little expense, thus creating a highly efficient system forrefurbishing rims/wheels R for subsequent application thereof of newtires or retreads.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the method without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method of refinishing a rim/wheel comprising the steps ofenclosing a rim/wheel in a first chamber, rotating the rim/wheel aboutits central axis while in the first chamber, performing a first liquidcleaning operation upon the rim/wheel while it rotates about its centralaxis in the first chamber, transferring the rim/wheel after the firstliquid cleaning from the first chamber to a second chamber, rotating therim/wheel about its central axis while in the second chamber, performinga second impact cleaning operation upon the rim/wheel while it rotatesabout its central axis in the second chamber, removing the rim/wheelfrom the second chamber after the second impact cleaning, applying acoating of protective material upon the rim/wheel, the second impactcleaning operation being performed by utilizing shot blast, therim/wheel being subject to the shot blast cleaning operation for a timeand intensity sufficient to elevate the skin temperature thereof to anelevated temperature, the protective material being heat-curable, andthe applying step being performed while the skin temperature of therim/wheel is elevated whereby the latent elevated temperature relativelyimmediately dries the heat-curable protective material.
 2. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating steps areperformed with the rim/wheel axis disposed generally horizontally. 3.The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein the transferringstep from the first chamber to the second chamber is performed by movingthe rim/wheel generally parallel to its axis.
 4. The refinishing methodas defined in claim 1 including the steps of elevating the rim/wheelfrom a first position to a second higher position, and moving therim/wheel from the second position into the first chamber.
 5. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 1 including the steps ofelevating the rim/wheel from a first position to a second higherposition, and rolling the rim/wheel about its central axis duringmovement of the rim/wheel from the second position into the firstchamber.
 6. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 including thesteps of elevating the rim/wheel from a first position to a secondhigher position along an arcuate path of travel, and moving therim/wheel from the second position into the first chamber.
 7. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 1 including the steps ofelevating the rim/wheel from a first position to a second higherposition along an arcuate path of travel, and rolling the rim/wheelabout its central axis from the second position into the first chamber.8. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 including the step oflowering the rim/wheel from a first elevated position at which thecoating-applying step is performed to a second lower position.
 9. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 1 including the step of loweringthe rim/wheel along an arcuate path of the travel from a first elevatedposition at which the coating-applying step is performed to a secondlower position.
 10. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 whereinthe coating-applying step is performed with the rim/wheel central axisdisposed generally horizontally.
 11. The refinishing method as definedin claim 1 wherein the coating-applying step is performed with therim/wheel central axis disposed generally vertically.
 12. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein the coating-applyingstep is performed in successive coating-applying stages with therim/wheel central axis disposed in two different planes.
 13. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein the coating-applyingstep is performed in successive coating-applying stages with therim/wheel central axis disposed in two different planes offset generally90 degrees from each other.
 14. The refinishing method as defined inclaim 1 wherein the coating-applying step is performed by spraying. 15.The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein thecoating-applying step is performed by spraying in successive stages withthe rim/wheel central axis first disposed generally horizontally andthereafter disposed generally vertically.
 16. The refinishing method asdefined in claim 1 wherein the rim/wheel includes a pair of beadscompletely peripherally coated by the coating applying step; the methodbeing further characterized by placing a tire upon the coated rim/wheel,and pressurizing the tire to bring beads of the tire into intimateperipheral resilient sealing relationship with the coating of therim/wheel beads.
 17. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1wherein the transferring of the rim/wheel is performed along apredetermined path of travel extending at least between the first andsecond chambers, and the path of travel and the rim/wheel axis aredisposed in generally parallel relationship during the movement of therim/wheel along the predetermined path of travel.
 18. The refinishingmethod as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of transferring therim/wheel is performed along a predetermined path of travel whichincludes a generally linear first path portion between the first andsecond chambers, and at least a generally linear second path portiontransverse to the first path portion along which the rims/wheels aretransported into and out of at least one of the first and secondchambers.
 19. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein thetransferring of the rim/wheel is performed along a predetermined path oftravel which includes a generally linear first path portion between thefirst and second chambers, and at least two generally linear second andthird path portions transverse to the first path portion along which therim/wheels are transported out of at least one of said first and secondchambers.
 20. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein thecoating-applying step is performed in two separate coating-applyingstages.
 21. The refinishing method as defined in claim 1 wherein therim/wheel includes a valve opening which is completely peripherallycoated during the coating-applying step; the method further beingcharacterized by inserting a valve stem into and in sealing relationshipwith the coating of the valve opening.
 22. The refinishing method asdefined in claim 1 wherein said first liquid cleaning operation isperformed by utilizing hot liquid.
 23. The refinishing method as definedin claim 1 wherein said first liquid cleaning operation is performed byutilizing hot liquid and the second impact cleaning operation isperformed by utilizing shot blast.
 24. The refinishing method as definedin claim 1 wherein the liquid cleaning operation is performed byutilizing a spray.
 25. A method of refinishing a rim/wheel comprisingthe steps of conveying a rim/wheel along a first path of travel in afirst direction between a starting position and a finishing position,conveying the rim/wheel along a second and generally reciprocal path oftravel in a second direction generally transverse to the first path oftravel to and from a first cleaning chamber, enclosing the rim/wheel inthe first chamber, rotating the rim/wheel about its central axis whilein the first chamber, performing a first liquid cleaning operation uponthe rim/wheel while it rotates about its central axis in the firstchamber, conveying the rim/wheel after the first liquid cleaningoperation along a third generally reciprocal path of travel downstreamof the second path of travel in a third direction generally transverseto the first direction to and from a second chamber, rotating therim/wheel about its central axis while in the second chamber, performinga second impact cleaning operation upon the rim/wheel while it rotatesabout its central axis in the second chamber, removing the rim/wheelfrom the second chamber after the second impact cleaning and continuingthe conveyance of the rim/wheel generally along the first path of travelto a coating station, applying a coating of protective material upon therim/wheel at the coating station, the second impact cleaning operationbeing performed by utilizing shot blast, the rim/wheel being subject tothe shot blast cleaning operation for a time and intensity sufficient toelevate the skin temperature thereof to an elevated temperature, theprotective material being heat-curable, and the applying step beingperformed while the skin temperature of the rim/wheel is elevatedwhereby the latent elevated temperature relatively immediately dries theheat-curable protective material.
 26. The refinishing method as definedin claim 25 including the step of directing a liquid spray against therim/wheel during the first liquid cleaning operation.
 27. Therefinishing method as defined in claim 25 including the step ofdirecting a liquid spray against the rim/wheel during the first liquidcleaning operation, directing shot blast against the rim/wheel duringthe second impact cleaning operation, and performing the liquid sprayingand shot-blasting steps before the performance of the coating step. 28.The refinishing method as defined in claim 25 wherein the step ofrotating the rim/wheel about its central axis during the first liquidcleaning operation takes place with the central axis disposed generallyhorizontally.
 29. The method of refinishing a rim/wheel as defined inclaim 25 wherein the step of rotating the rim/wheel about its axisduring the second impact cleaning operation takes place with the centralaxis disposed generally horizontally.
 30. The method of refinishing arim/wheel as defined in claim 25 including the step maintaining thecentral axis of the rim/wheel disposed generally horizontally during theperformance of the first liquid and second impact cleaning operations.31. The refinishing method as defined in claim 25 wherein the rim/wheelincludes a peripheral surface and at least one of the rim/wheel rotatingsteps is performed by supporting the rim/wheel with its peripheralsurface resting upon and being rotated by a moving surface.